Sin Trips Us Up
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 12:1-4
Key Verse: Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
Our Key Verse for today suggests that there is a huge crowd of people who are watching our lives and cheering us on in our faith.
The author of Hebrews 11, the Faith Chapter, paints a picture of many heroes of faith and other witnesses who are looking in on us Christ-followers as we live out our lives. While the Bible does not offer any other evidence that people in heaven can see us living our lives, let that not distract us from the main theme of this verse: do not let sin trip us up.
As you run the race of life in Jesus, are you “stripping off” anything that hinders you from winning this race?
The Holy Spirit shows all of us things to get rid of in our lives, but not everything at once. As we run the race, the Holy Spirit, at the right time, shows every believer what they need to get rid of at right stage of their race.
I believe all of us will be challenged to become more like Jesus until we pass from this world into the next. When the Holy Spirit points out a sin to rid yourself of, do not be discouraged; rather be encouraged that you are continually being changed to become more like Jesus. We all are a work in progress and God only wants our cooperation.
Also notice in today’s Key Verse that the author suggests there is a sin that “so easily trips us up”. Since the author does not list a particular sin, we can presume that he is referring to a sin that is personal to us.
In other words, each of us may have a sin that becomes one that “easily trips us up”. If you have one of those, what are you doing about it?
We must deal with it directly and quickly. One of the first things that we can do is to admit it. The Bible says that the heart is deceitful, above all else (Jeremiah 17:9). Therefore, we must confront our “favorite” sin and expose it as the one that would trip us up.
Once you have found that sin and admitted it, the next thing to do is create a plan to defeat it. That plan is as unique to you as the sin that easily trips you up. Saturate this issue with lots of prayer asking God to help you develop a victory plan for your life.
The Bible says if any person is lacking in wisdom, they can ask God and He gives wisdom generously (James 1:5). God is on our side; you have no need to try and hide anything from Him.
Talk to God about the sin that so easily trips you up and let Him help you find victory over it. The crowd from Heaven is cheering you on; keep going!
Father, help me break the cycle of sin in my life. Grant me wisdom and strength to defeat the sin in my life that trips me up. In Jesus’s Name I pray, amen.